Redskin Brigade prepares for contest

September 29, 2006

The Knox High School Marching Band is rehearsing full speed for this weekend's Indiana State School Music Association's District Marching Band Contest at Concord High School. This event is the first level of qualifications for the state finals in October. Only the bands that receive the superior Gold Award will advance to the Regional Contest Oct. 14. This year the band's show is titled "Refractions." A refraction is the result of pure white light passing through a prism or mirror to create a rainbow effect. Each movement of the band's music depicts a different color scheme from the rainbow. Due to a large senior class at Knox, the band is again competing in the Class C Division. For several years, the Redskin Brigade was the powerhouse of the north half of the state in the Class D Division. "Moving up to Class C has forced us to find ways of getting better," said band director Bryan Ames. "In Class D, we were always the largest band in the state. We are still a large band in Class C, but the groups are much tougher competition." The band played last Saturday at the Twin Lakes' "Spirit of the Lakes" Invitational and placed second behind Concordia Lutheran High School of Fort Wayne. Knox earned the coveted "Outstanding Music" caption award over Concordia. Drum majors Stacey Horan, Julie Albright, and Megan Noonan also won the prized "Outstanding Drum Majors Award."